Gasoline tank cap lock



.luy 19, E932. A. W. BRYAN GASOLINE TANK CAP LOCK Filed May 15, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 1 r/Zw Wiyan l 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS July 19, 1932- A. w.BRYAN 1,867,550

GASOLINE TANK CAP LOCK Filed May 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR mATTORNEYS Patented July 19, 1932 UNEF@ STATES' istat rara,

GASOLINE TANK CAP LOCK Application filed MayV 15, 1931. Serial No.537,689.

1 j character which will effectively prevent theft of the contents ofthe-tank or container and which may be easily and quickly applied totank or container now in use without p alterations or specialconstruction of the neck o. of the tank or container.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an effectivesecuring means between the cap and the neck o-f the tank which willprevent unauthorized removalof the cap but which will permit convenientremoval of said cap by employing a key orthe like so that the tank maybe filled whenever desired. Y

A further object of this invention is the provision of means toestablish a leak-proof connection between the cap and the neck of thetank with suitable vent means which will prevent the escape of thecontents of thetank due to splashing thereof.

A still further object of this invention is the provision ofV a cap orclosure for tanks or containers of the above stated character which willbe simple, durable and efficient and which may be manufactured and soldat a comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in Certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partsto-be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying dra-wings, in which Y Figure1 is a sectional view illustrating a cap occupying a position locked totheneck of a tank and constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the cap positioned ready to beremoved from the neck ofv the tank.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. i

Figure el is a similar viewi taken on the line 1*4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sideelevation illustrating a supporting sleeve employedbetween the latching means and the cap.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view illustrating' the same.

l Figure sure disk. Y

Figure 8 is a planr view illustrating a vent` disk. A

Figure 9 is aplan view illustratingan operatingkplate. l

Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating a. latching member. y

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l indicates a fillingneck of a tank or container which has formed thereon retaining flanges 2of arcuate shape in plan view as shown in Figure 3 and are transverse`ly curved as shown in Figuresjl and 2 to be.` engaged by retainingngersof a closure cap.` The foregoing description relates to a wellknown type of neck for tanks or containers now in use and to which myinvention may be easily and quicklyapplied without undue alterations.` l

` A. cap 3 of hollow formation has yformed thereon an annular neck orflange l to receive the neck -1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the capis preferably constructed from plates 5 and 6 with their edges securedtogether as shown at 7. The plate 6 is concave and provided with amarginal ange 8 while the plate 5 is convex and provided with a flange 9bent about theliange 8 to rmly secure the plates together in capformation.

The plate 5 is provided with a centrally located key opening 10 forreceiving a key 11 employed to operate the securing means be-` tween thecap and the neck 1 and which will be hereinaftermore fully described.

7 is a plan view illustrating a clo- A journalled plate 12 is suitablysecured to the inner face of the plate 5 of the cap 3 and has acentrally arranged opening positioned about the key opening 10 with adepending guide flange 13. A portion of the journal plate 12 is odsetfrom the plate 5 of the cap 3 to form a bearing' seat 14 engaged by anannular flange 15 formed on the upper end of the supporting member 16.The supporting member 16 is of hollow formation having a cylindricalportion 17 and a hexagonal shaped portion 18. rlhe hexagonal shapedportion 18 provides angularly disposed faces 19 provided with slots 2()opening outwardly through the lower edge of the hexagonal shapedportion. The lower ends of the slots 2O are enlarged as shown in Figure6 to form attaching lugs 21 received in angularly shaped slots 2 2 of aclosure disk 23. The lugs when positioned within the slots 22 are headedor offset for the purpose of taching the closure disk to the supportingmember 1,6 and it also will be noted that thc supporting member providesa rotat ableponnection between the closure disk and the cap 3.

vThe closure disk has struck out therefrom spaced guide posts 24 onwhich .is slidably mounted the latch memher 25 in the form of adisk 26having oppositely disposed arms 27 formed integral therewith. .the arms27 are bent downwardly and outwardly7 from the disk 26 to provide fingerportions 28 that are transversely curved to provide upper concavebearing portions 29 adapted to engage under the flanges 2 of the neck1,.

pin or rod 30 is secured centrally to the closuredisk and projects aboveand below the latter and has its lower end extended through a centrallyarranged aperture 31 in the latch member 21 and has its lower end headedas shown at 32. The headed end of the rod 3,1 supports a washer 33forming a seat for a coiled spring 34 that bears against the'latchingmember and which urges the latching member toward the closure disk forthe purpose of bringing the fingers 28 of the arms 27 in tightengagement with the flanges 2` of the, neck 1. Having the convex facesl29 of the fingers 28 provides a construction which will permit thelingers to adjust themselves to the edges of the flanges 2 and adaptedto compensate for wear between these parts during the use of the device.

A gasket 35 is secured to the closure disk 23 and seats against the edgeof the neck 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 for the purpose ofestablishing a leak-proof connection between the closure disk and theneck. A vent disk 36 is slidably mounted upon the Supporting member 16and is held in tight engagement with the closure disk by the action of acoiled spring 37 mounted on the upfper portion of the pin or rod 30. Thevent disk 36 is of substantially the same size as the closure disk andis provided with an annulargroove 38 provided with a vent opening 39 forthe purpose of placing the interior' of the tank or container underatmospheric' pressure when the cap is applied to the neck. It is to beunderstood that the vent disk 36 is slidably mounted on the supportingmember 16 and moves with the closure disk 23.

A hexagonal shaped operating plate 40 has formed upon its outer edgeupstanding marginal flanges 41 and is centrally cut away to form `abearing plate 42 connected to the major portion of the operating plateby radially extending arms 43. vThe cut-out portion of the plate 40provides a plurality of openings 44 with the outer walls of saidopenings of angular shape cooperating with each other in forming theinner edge of the major portion of thev operating plate of hexagonalshape. Angularly disposed flanges 45 are formed ont-he inner edge of themajor portion of the operating plate and form bearing surfaces toslidably engage the angularly related faces 19 of the hexagonally shapedportion 18 of the supporting member 16 with the arms 43 extendingthrough the slots 20 and with the rod or pin 30 extending through thebearing plate by way of the opening 46. The bearing plate 42 engages oneend of the coiled spring 37 for normally supporting the operating platein a position as shown in Figure 1.

A keeper plate 47 is secured to the inner face of the plate 6 of the cap3 and has a comparatively large opening 48 therein through which extendsthe supporting member 1,6 and the walls of the opening 48 are cut awayto provide angularly related faces 49 to receive the flanges 41 of theoperating plate when the latter is moved downwardly as shown in Figure 2by the key 11 so that by turning the key the operating plate will berotated imparting rotation to the cap, supporting member 16, andlatching member 25, disengaging the arms 27 thereof from the flanges 2of the neck 1 thereby disconnecting the cap from the neck 1.

The key llpis adapted to fit between the arms 43 of the operating plateso that on turning the key the operating plate will move or rotatetherewith. If desired, a suitable locking mechanism consisting of a keybarrel may be mounted within the supporting member 16 and associatedwith the operating plate that on inserting a key in the key barrel, thelocking plate may be depressed and rotated. It is to be understood thatthe key barrel and its mounting` within the supporting member forms nopart of this present invention and therefore is not shown.

With the cap applied to the neck 1 as shown in Figure 1 it is impossibleto remove said cap from the neck without the employment of the key 11and will provide a very eli'ective closure for the neck permitting theneck of the tank to always be under atmospheric pressure .through thevent openings in the vent fdisk. TheV vent ndisk being so located thatthe splashing of the fluid within the tank and neck will .be preventedfrom Aescaping.

While I havev shown and described lthe preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction,combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing fromthe tank and vretaining flanges on said neck, a

hollow cap receiving the neck and having a keyhole to receive anoperating key, a supporting member journalled to the cap, a closure diskengaging the neck and secured to the supporting member, fastening meansslidably secured to the closure disk and engaging under the flanges, andmeans under the influence of the key to secure the supporting member tothe cap.

2. In combination with a filling cap ofV a tank and retaining flanges onsaid neck, a hollow cap receiving the neck Vand having a keyhole toreceive an operating key, a supporting sleeve journalled in the cap, aclosure disk mounted on said sleeve and engaging the neck, fasteningmeans yieldably carried by the closure disk to engage under saidflanges, and means under the influence of the key to establish a drivingconnection between the supporting sleeve and the cap.

3. In combination with a filling neck of a tank and retaining flanges onsaid neck, a cap receiving the neck and having a keyhole to receive anoperating key, a supporting sleeve journalled to the cap, a. closuredisk secured to the sleeve, locking fingers yieldably secured to theclosure disk and adapted to engage under the flanges and adapted torotate with said supporting sleeve, and means under the influence of thekey to establish a driving connection between the supporting sleeve andthe cap.

4. In combination with a filling neck of a tank and retaining flanges onthe neck, a cap receiving the neck and having a keyhole to receive anoperating key, a supporting sleeve journalled to the cap, a closure disksecured to the sleeve and engaging the neck, guide posts carried by theclosure disk, a latching member slidably mounted on the posts andadapted to engage under the flanges, and means under the operation ofthe key to establish a driving connection between the supporting sleeveand the cap.

5. In combination withv a filling neck of a tank and flanges on saidneck, a cap receiving the neck and having a keyhole to receive anoperating key, a supporting sleeve journalled to the cap, a closure disksecured to the sleeve and engaging the neck, guide posts carried by theclosure disk, a latching member slidably and yieldably mounted on thepost and engaging under the flanges, and means under the inliuence ofthe key to establish a driving connection' between the sleeve and thecap.

6. In combination with a filling neck of a tank and flanges on the neck,a cap receiving the neck, a supporting sleeve journalled to the cap, aclosure disk secured to the sleeve and engaging the neck, guide postscarried by the closure disk, a rod carried by the closure disk, alatching member slidably mounted on the post and rod and engaging underthe flanges, tension means carried by the rod and bearing against thelatching member to urge the latter into engagement with said fianges,

and means under the influence of the key to establish a drivingconnection between the sleeve and the cap. Y

-7. In combination with a filling neck cfa tank and flanges on saidneck, a cap receiving the neck and having a keyhole to receive anoperating key, a closure disk secured to the sleeve and engaging theneck, guide posts carried by the closure disk, a pin carried by.

the closure disk, a second disk slidably mounted on the pin andguideposts, oppo-. sitely ldisposed arms on said second disk to.

engage under the flanges, tension means carried by the pin and engagingthe second disk to urge the arms into engagement with .the flanges, andmeans under the influence of the key to establish a driving connectionbetween the sleeve and the cap.

8. In combination With the filling neck of a tank and flanges on saidneck, a cap receiving the neck and having a keyhole to receive anoperating key, a supporting sleeve journal-y led to the cap, a closuredisk secured to the sleeve and engaging the neck, guide elements on theclosure disk, a second disk slidably mounted on the guide elements,oppcsitely disposed arms on the second disk and having portions thereoftransversely curved to provide convex faces to engage the flanges,tension means for urging the second disk toward the closure disk, andmeans infiuenced by the sof` key to establish a driving connectionbetween the supporting sleeve andthe cap. y

9. In combination with a filling neck of a tank and flanges on saidneck, a cap receiving the neck and having a keyhole to receive anoperating key, a supporting sleeve j ournalledl to the cap, a closureldisk secured to the sleeve and engaging the neck, a gasket between theclosure disk and neck, guide posts carried by the closure disk, alatching member slidable `on the post and engaging under the flanges,

tension means carried by the closure disk and urging the latching membertoward said closure disk to bind the latter against the flanges, andmeansunder the Vinfluence of the key to establish a driving connectionbetween the supporting sleeve and the cap.

10. In combination with a lling neck of a tank and flanges on said neck,a. cap receiving the neck and having a keyhole to receive an operatingkey, a supporting sleeve ournalled to the cap, a. closure disk securedto said supporting sleeve and engaging the neck, posts struck out fromsaid closure disk and providing passages through the disk, a latchingmember carried by said post to engage under the flanges, a vent diskmounted on the closure disk and carried by the supporting sleeve andhaving an annular groove with the walls thereof provided with ventopenings, a gasket between the closure disk and the neck, and meansinfluenced by the key to establish a driving connection between thesupporting sleeve and the cap.

l1. In combination with a filling neck of a tank and flanges on saidneck, a. cap receiving the neck and having a keyhole to receive a key, asupporting sleeve ournalled to the capy a closure disk secured to thesleeve and engaging the neck, a latching member slidably and yieldablysecured to the closure disk to engage under the flanges, a keeper plateslidably secured to the supporting sleeve and normally disengaged fromthe keeper plate and adapted to be moved by the key to engage theangularly related faces of the keeper plate to establish a drivingconnection between the sleeve and the cap. l

l2. In combination with the filling neck of a tank and flanges on theneck, a cap receiving the neck and having a. keyhole to receive anoperating key, a supporting sleeve journalled to the cap, a closureplate secured to the sleeve and engaging the neck, a latching memberyieldably and slidably secured to the closure disk to engage under theflanges, a keeper plate secured to the cap and having angularly relatedfaces, and operating plate slidably secured to the supporting sleeve andhaving angularly related faces adapted to be brought into engagementwith the first named angularly related faces by the key to establish adriving connection between the supporting sleeve and the cap, and atension means between the closuredisk and the operating plate tonormally disengage the latter from the keeper' plate.

13. ln combination with the filling neck of a tank and flanges on saidneck, a cap receiving the neck and having a keyhole to receive anoperating key, a supporting sleeve journalled to the cap and having aslotted hexagonal shaped portion, a closure disk secured to the sleeveand engaging vthe neck, a latching member slidably and yieldablyconnected to the closure disk to engage under the flanges, a keeperplate secured to the cap and having angularly related faces, anoperating plate having a cut-out portion to form a central bearingportion and radially extending arms with the arms extending through theslotted portion of the supporting sleeve, said bearing portion adaptedto be engaged by the key, angularly related flanges formed on theVARTHUR W. BRYAN.

